Upcoming Online Events
Join us for An Advent Adventure each Tuesday in December
An Advent Adventure:
Preparing to "Birth" a New Consciousness
Many trustworthy “voices” have spoken of the critical need to engage with the “New Story” of the universe. In this Advent Adventure we will listen to the “voices” of Francis of Assisi and Pope Francis with an openness to experience the “birthing" of a new consciousness of the Creator’s ALL inclusive love as the Energy at the heart of creation.
The 4 week Advent Adventure will include: prayer, input and reflection on Francis of Assisi and Franciscan theology of the Incarnation, reading selected sections of Pope Francis’ most recent encyclical/letter “Fratelli Tutti”/ “Brothers and Sisters, All”, and listening to each other’s experiences of what is being “birthed” in us.
This offering is evolving out of the combined effort of Linda Conroy, Kathy Delbecq, Tommy King,OFM and Mary McMahon. All participants will be invite to share in continuing the evolution of this adventure!
Our first gathering on Dec. 1, will include an offering by Tommy King on Francis of Assisi' understanding of the Incarnation based on his studies and lived experience of being a Franciscan missionary in Latin America.
Dates and Times: 4 Tuesdays in December: 1, 8, 15, 22; 9am to 10:30am (Pacific Time)
Please log in by 8:55am so that we can begin right at 9:am. We will end no later than 10:30am.
Please consider committing to the 4 gatherings, but this is not required.
Wisdom teachers from many faith traditions hold that the heart of the mystical experience is "Interconnectedness", including all of the natural world. Our hope is that these Advent gatherings will help deepen our sense of interconnectedness and strengthen our capacity to "pay attention".
Registration required. Please include your address when you register.
There is no fee for this 4 week offering. Donations will be gratefully accepted for people in Honduras who have become homeless and displaced due to the recent severe Tropical Storms, "Eta" and "Iota".
Please make checks out to: "Franciscan Friars".
Mail to: Stillpoint at Beckside, 1625 Huntley Road, Bellingham, WA 98226
All donations received will be given directly to the Franciscan Pastor in Honduras, via Tommy King, OFM, who works with the local Caritas agency.
Throughout the 4 week Advent Adventure you are invite to engage in a daily spiritual practice of "Awareness, Awareness, Awareness", using some form of the Examen or Review of the Day, or any prayer that helps you
to "pay attention".
Over the 4 weeks we will be reading and reflecting upon selected passages from "Fratelli Tutti".
Each week you will receive an email with either a reading from Fratelli Tutti or a Scripture passage.
You can access a free download of the encyclical/letter on the Vatican Website.
Optional Reading and Resources:
A short summary of Pope Francis Encyclical/"letter", "Fratelli Tutti", "Brothers and Sisters, All".
Click on title of article to access it.
A 30 minute podcast with John Grimm and Mary Evelyn of Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology.
They offer a brief, clear outline of "Fratelli Tutti"/ "Brothers and Sisters All"
"Journey of the Universe" podcasts by Brian Swimme
"Journey of the Universe" FILM, view for free.
Even if you have seen this film, you may wish to consider watching it again during the Advent/
Christmas season.
A recording of a some Catholic leaders offering their views of the major elements of the encyclical
and discussing its implications and applications in this moment of multiple crises.
available on the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology website.
Franciscan School of Theology Lecture Series
"Not Because of Sin: Reconsidering the Reason God Became Human"
By: Dr. Dan Horan, OFM FST
December 17th, 7:00p.m. PST
There is no fee for this teaching but registration required. CLICK HERE
A Personal Pilgrimage into an Elliptical Revolution
This offering will take place on TWO separate half-days: December 12th and January 9th, from 9am - Noon
We invite you to join us for a time of quiet contemplation, deep listening, and a befriending of that which resides in the holy and unseen darkness. In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, Kora is a type of pilgrimage or meditative practice that is performed by the practitioner making a circle or revolution around a sacred site or object.
This offering will take place on two separate half-days; Part 1 is on December 12th, Part 2 is on January 9th, 2021.
Inspired by this act of holy devotion, in this 2-part retreat offering participants will be invited to walk the contours of an imaginative and deeply personal pilgrimage where they will explore the foundations of reverence, authenticity, truth and 'revolution' that color the movement and meaning of their own lives. The winter season is a perfect time for this type of inward journey.
Both half-days will be made up of a variety of meditative and community focused activities that ask participants to come into deeper communion with that which they hold and celebrate as sacred.
Elizabeth Johnson is an end of life doula and the Executive Director of The Peaceful Presence Project, an organization committed to the cultivation of death and grief literate communities. She is a graduate of the Anamcara Project. Elizabeth has extensive experience in leading groups and individuals into the challenging and revelatory territories of self-exploration and truth seeking.
Bill Kirst, a consultant with West Monroe, supports clients through the challenges of life changes. Bill’s blended approach has been cultivated over 20 years, from consulting with individuals and organizations and with over a decade of military service. He enjoys helping others learn and address issues that block ways of experiencing joy and fulfillment in their lives.
Dates and Times: Saturday,Dec. 12th AND Saturday, Jan. 9th, from 9am-12pm.
Fee: $55.00, or whatever circumstances allow you to pay.
Since this is 1 event held on 2 half-days, attendance on Both dates is necessary.
Registration is Required to attend. A Zoom link will be sent to those who register.
